Creating a Storage Pool

Prerequisites

A disk domain has been created.

Context

• You are advised to use different disk domains to create storage pools for the block storage service and file storage service.
• A storage pool is a logical combination of one or multiple storage tiers in a disk domain. Different storage tiers may have different RAID policies.
• A RAID policy includes a RAID level and the number of data blocks and parity blocks for this RAID level.
• A RAID level is available in typical and flexible configurations based on the number of data blocks and parity blocks. Table 5-4 describes the detailed configuration.
  Table 5-4 RAID level configuration

  RAID Level	Typical Configuration	Flexible Configuration
  RAID 0	-	-
  RAID 1	2Da 4D	-
  RAID 10	-	-
  RAID 3	2D+1Pb 4D+1P 8D+1P	2D+1P to 13D+1P
  RAID 5	2D+1P 4D+1P 8D+1P	2D+1P to 13D+1P
  RAID 50	(2D+1P) x 2 (4D+1P) x 2 (8D+1P) x 2	-
  RAID 6	2D+2P 4D+2P 8D+2P 16D+2P	2D+2P to 26D+2P
  RAID60	(2D+2P) x 2 (4D+2P) x 2 (8D+2P) x 2 (16D+2P) x 2	-
  a: D indicates a data block. b: P indicates a parity block. NOTE: If the RAID level of one storage tier is configured with flexible configuration first, this tier is the primary control tier that controls other tiers' RAID policies. When the RAID policy for the primary control tier is xD+yP, the RAID policy for other tiers must be: (xD+yP) multiplied by a factor of 1, 2, 4, or 8; or (xD+yP) divided by 1, 2, 4, or 8. For example, if the performance tier is the primary control tier and its RAID policy is 3D+1P, the RAID policy of other tiers must be 3D+1P, 6D+2P, or so on, and cannot be 4D+1P. If you want to change the current primary control tier, deselect this tier and select it again.

Procedure

1. Log in to DeviceManager.
2. Choose Provisioning > Storage Pool.
3. Click Create.

   The Create Storage Pool dialog box is displayed.

   GUIs may vary with product versions and models. The actual GUIs prevail.

4. Name and describe the storage pool.
   1. Specify Name.
      • The name must be unique.
      • The name can contain only letters, digits, periods (.), underscores (_), and hyphens (-).
      • The name must contain 1 to 31 characters.
   2. Specify Description.

      Descriptive information, such as functions and properties of the storage pool, helps identify the storage pool.

5. In Usage, select Block Storage Service.

   Usage is unchangeable after being configured.

   • A storage pool whose Usage is Block Storage Service allows you to create LUNs only.
   • A storage pool whose Usage is File Storage Service allows you to create file systems only.

   To optimize performance, use different disk domains to create storage pools for the block storage service and file storage service.

6. In Disk Domain, select the disk domain that the storage pool belongs to.
7. In Storage Medium, select the storage tiers needed for the storage pool and set related parameters.
   1. Configure whether the system uses enhanced RAID data protection.
      Table 5-5 describes the related parameter.

      Table 5-5 Enhanced RAID data protection

      Parameter

      Description

      Enhanced RAID data protection

      After this option is selected, the storage system will evaluate whether the current data reliability meets the recommended requirements based on the disk type, disk quantity, single disk capacity, RAID level, and RAID member disk quantity in the current disk domain. For versions earlier than V500R007C70: If the current data reliability meets the recommended requirements, you can create a storage pool successfully. If the current data reliability does not meet the recommended requirements, you are not allowed to create a storage pool using the current configurations. In this case, you can adjust the RAID policy or create a disk domain that contains the required number of same-type disks so that the data reliability meets the recommended requirements. Example: A disk domain consists of 70 SAS disks with an average capacity of 1200 GB per disk. Creating a RAID 5 (8D+1P) storage pool in this disk domain will fail because the number of SAS disks exceeds the recommended value for recommended data reliability. You are advised to create a disk domain that contains fewer (for example 65) SAS disks, or adjust the RAID policy of the storage pool, for example, to RAID 5 (7D+1P). For V500R007C70 and later versions: The storage system automatically filters out RAID policies that do not meet the recommended data reliability requirements. [Default value] Selected

      • For details about how a storage system evaluates whether the recommended data reliability requirements are met, see https://forum.huawei.com/enterprise/en/criteria-to-evaluate-whether-recommended-data-reliability-requirements-are-met-with-enhanced-data-protection-policy-used/thread/396345-891.
      • Data reliability is evaluated by calculating the probability that data will not be lost if multiple disks in a disk domain fail at the same time.

      • The GUI may vary with the product version. The actual GUI prevails. For versions earlier than V500R007C70, this function is displayed as Use the enhanced data protection policy.
   2. Select storage tiers that meet service requirements.
   3. Set basic properties for the storage tiers.
      Table 5-6 describes the related parameters.

      Table 5-6 Storage tier parameters

      Parameter	Description	Setting
      RAID Policy	RAID level. The system supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10, RAID 3, RAID 5, RAID 50, RAID 6, and RAID 60. NOTE: RAID 0 and RAID 60 can be configured only on the CLI. For details, see the command reference specific to your product model. Only V500R007C73 and later versions support RAID 60.	Select a RAID policy based on the service plan. The default RAID policy of a storage tier varies with the number of disks allocated to the storage tier. Details are as follows: If the number of disks allocated to a storage tier is smaller than 10: High-performance tier: RAID 10 Performance tier: RAID 5 (4D+1P) Capacity tier: RAID 6 (4D+2P) If the number of disks allocated to a storage tier is equal to 10: High-performance tier: RAID 10 Performance tier: RAID 5 (8D+1P) Capacity tier: RAID 6 (4D+2P) If the number of disks allocated to a storage tier is greater than 10: High-performance tier: RAID 10 Performance tier: RAID 5 (8D+1P) Capacity tier: RAID 6 (8D+2P) NOTE: You are advised to configure RAID 6 for the capacity tier to ensure data security. If the number of SSDs in a disk domain is two or three, you are advised to configure RAID 1 (2D) for the high-performance tier.
      Capacity	Capacity that the storage tier provides for the storage pool. Three capacity levels are provided: TB, GB, and PB. NOTE: If you select Use all available capacity, the storage system allocates all available capacity in this storage tier to the new storage pool.	The capacity must be no larger than the available capacity of the storage tier.

8. Set a system snapshot activation policy.
   Table 5-7 describes the related parameters.

   Table 5-7 System snapshot activation policy

   Parameter	Description	Setting
   Automatic snapshot deactivation	If Automatic snapshot deactivation is selected, the system automatically deactivates snapshots that are not mapped to any host when the storage pool is used up. NOTE: By default, this option is not selected during storage pool creation. When this option is not selected, the system will not automatically deactivate snapshots that are not mapped to any host. Some product models do not support HyperSnap. To check whether your product model supports HyperSnap, see its product description. This parameter is applicable only to storage pools for Block Storage Service. Some product versions and models do not support this parameter. The actual GUIs prevail.	[Default value] Disabled

9. (Optional) Configure a SmartTier policy for the storage pool being created.
   • If the storage pool consists of multiple storage tiers, you are advised to configure a SmartTier policy. The policy enables data to migrate among different storage tiers, optimizing storage performance.
   • Some product models do not support SmartTier. The actual GUIs prevail. To check whether your product model supports SmartTier, see its product description.
   1. Click Set SmartTier Policy.

      The Set SmartTier Policy dialog box is displayed. Table 5-8 describes the related parameters.

      Table 5-8 SmartTier policy parameters

      Parameter	Description	Setting
      Service Monitoring Period	Period of time during which the system monitors services and collects hot data statistics after you select Enable I/O monitoring. Data is migrated among storage tiers based on the statistics. You can specify the period by setting days, Start Time, and Duration.	[Default value] I/O monitoring disabled
      Data Migration Plan	Trigger policy of data relocation among storage tiers in a storage pool. The policies include: Manual: You must manually trigger data relocation among storage tiers. The data relocation process is transparent to application servers. Manual data relocation can be performed anytime. Periodical: You must specify the start time and duration of data relocation for the storage system to perform data relocation automatically at the specified time. This reduces the management cost and complexity. The data relocation process is transparent to application servers. Automatic data relocation is performed only at the specified time.	[Default value] Manual

      • The SmartTier policy is applicable only when Usage of a storage pool is configured as Block Storage Service.
      • The SmartTier feature requires a license.
      • If Data Migration Plan is set to Periodical, I/Os are monitored on a 7 x 24 basis by default. If Data Migration Plan is set to Manual, you can manually start data migration on the SmartTier page at any time.
      • A storage pool configured with SmartTier needs to reserve free space because SmartTier requires extra data exchange space to dynamically migrate data.
      • For details about SmartTier, refer to the SmartTier feature guide specific to your product model.
   2. Click OK.

      The Create Storage Pool dialog box is displayed.

10. Set advanced properties for the storage pool.
    1. Click Advanced.

       The Advanced Property Settings dialog box is displayed. Table 5-9 describes the related parameters.

       GUIs may vary with product versions and models. The actual GUIs prevail.

       Table 5-9 Storage pool advanced parameters

       Parameter	Description	Setting
       Data Protection Capacity Alarm Threshold (%)	An alarm will be generated when the percentage of the storage pool's data protection capacity to its total capacity exceeds the data protection capacity alarm threshold.	[Value range] 1 to 100 [Default value] 100
       Used Capacity Alarm Threshold (%)	If the storage pool contains a LUN with value-added services or a thin LUN, an alarm will be generated when the percentage of the storage pool's used capacity to its total capacity reaches the used capacity alarm threshold. Alarms are generated in the following circumstances: When the used capacity reaches the used capacity alarm threshold, the system generates an alarm informing that the capacity of storage pool is insufficient. When the used capacity alarm threshold is not greater than 88 and the used capacity reaches 90%, the system generates an alarm informing that the storage pool is running out. When the used capacity alarm threshold is greater than 88 and the used capacity reaches (used capacity alarm threshold + 2) %, the system generates an alarm informing that the storage pool is running out. NOTE: If the used capacity alarm threshold is set to 85: When the used capacity reaches 85%, the system generates an alarm informing that the capacity of storage pool is insufficient. When the used capacity reaches 90%, the system generates an alarm informing that the storage pool is running out. If the used capacity alarm threshold is set to 91: When the used capacity reaches 93%, the system generates an alarm informing that the storage pool is running out. A proper used capacity alarm threshold helps you monitor the capacity usage of a storage pool.	[Value range] 1 to 95 [Default value] 80
       Data Migration Granularity	A logical storage space with a fixed size divided from a CKG. It is the smallest unit (granularity) for data migration and hot data statistics collection. It is also the smallest unit for space application and release in a storage pool. The default value 4 MB is recommended. The value cannot be changed after being set. NOTE: You can configure this parameter only when RAID levels of storage tiers are of typical configuration. Some product versions and models do not support this parameter. The actual GUIs prevail.	[Value range] 512 KB to 64 MB [Default value] 4 MB
       Pre-allocated Capacity for Data Protection (%)	Percentage of the capacity reserved for data protection in the total capacity of a LUN. The pre-allocated capacity will be deducted from the storage pool. NOTE: Assume that the pre-allocated capacity for data protection is set to 10% in a storage pool. If a 100 GB LUN and a 50 GB LUN are created in the storage pool and are both configured with the data protection service, then the system will reserve (100 x 10% + 50 x 10%) GB data protection capacity in the storage pool. By default, Pre-allocated Capacity for Data Protection (%), Max. Capacity Reserved for Data Protection, and Fixed Capacity Reserved for Data Protection are not displayed. To display them, click All.	[Value range] 0 to 100 [Default value] 0
       Max. Capacity Reserved for Data Protection	Maximum capacity reserved for the data protection service.	[Value range] Only digits or -- is allowed. NOTE: The maximum capacity reserved for data protection must be less than the total capacity of the storage pool. -- indicates that the maximum capacity reserved for data protection is not limited but must be less than the total capacity of the storage pool. [Default value] --
       Fixed Capacity Reserved for Data Protection	Fixed capacity reserved for the data protection service.	[Value range] 0 to maximum capacity reserved for data protection NOTE: The fixed capacity reserved for data protection cannot exceed the maximum capacity reserved for data protection. [Default value] 0
       Stripe Depth	Stripe refers to that continuous data is divided into data blocks of the same size and data blocks are distributed on different disks. In this way, I/O loads are balanced among disks, improving read/write performance. Stripe depth refers to the stripe size, indicating the size of data blocks on each disk. A smaller stripe size corresponds to smaller data blocks. Smaller data blocks are distributed on more disks, improving transmission performance. However, more time is required to find different data blocks, decreasing disk locating performance. On the contrary, fewer data blocks indicate lower transmission performance but higher disk locating performance. Possible values for this parameter are: Automatically Selected The system selects the optimal stripe depth based on the RAID policy of the storage tier and data migration granularity. 32 KB 64 KB 128 KB 128 KB is recommended for random read/write services (such as database services). 256 KB 512 KB 512 KB is recommended for sequential read/write services (such as Media & Entertainment services). NOTE: The parameter value cannot be changed after being set.	[Default value] Automatically Selected

    2. Click OK.

11. In the Create Storage Pool dialog box, click OK.

    If a security alert dialog box is displayed, confirm the information in the dialog box and select I have read and understand the consequences associated with performing this operation. Click OK.

    The Execution Result dialog box is displayed, indicating that the operation succeeded.

12. Click Close.